GLENDORA — A retired fire chief got a chance Thursday to meet and thank the Glendora police officer who saved him from a vicious pit bull attack earlier this week.
Milford Fonza, a 67-year-old retired Compton Fire Department chief, was out for his morning walk early Monday morning in the 1600 block of South Sunflower Avenue when he was attacked by two loose pit bulls, Glendora police and Fonza said.
Fonza estimated he’d been fighting with the dogs for about four minutes when Glendora police Officer Matt Fenner passed by on patrol, Lt. Tim Staab said.
The officer struck one of the pit bulls with his car, then shot the other one, police said.
Fonza suffered bite wounds to his face, arms, hands, torso, groin and legs, but was recovering well, Staab said.
“I’ve been wanting to meet him ever since the incident. I had to recover a little,” Fonza said.
Without Fenner, “I wouldn’t be here,” he added. “There’s no doubt in my mind. I was weakening. I don’t think I could have kept fighting much longer.”
Chief Robert Castro also attended the meeting.
A Glendora resident presented Fonza with a handmade walking stick to replace one that was destroyed during his fight with the dogs. The city also gave him one from a sporting goods store.
Fonza gave Fenner flowers and a fruit basket.
“It was great to thank him for his service and for saving my life,” he said. “He’s definitely my hero.”

PHOTO courtesy of the Glendora Police Department